ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939) [THE SEASONS.] Four decorative panels on silk. 1900.
Each 26 1/4x11 inches, 66 1/2x28 cm. F. Champenois, Paris.
Condition varies, generally B: abrasions in image. Printed on silk. Matted and framed.
For this, Mucha's third and final allegorical group of the seasons the premise is the same; young women as irresistible allegories of the seasons. But Mucha's approach is different. He has placed these images within decorative borders, and depicted the women with their feet on the ground, rather than seemingly floating in air. Mucha also employs a starker and more realistic color scheme than the pastels of 1896. These are the rare variants printed on silk, three with the Champenois overprint in the bottom field of the ornamental border. Rennert/Weill 74 (var 1).